Steam-generator.



A. A. ELSTERZING.

STEAM GENERATOR. APPLICATION FILED APILM, 1902. RENEWED APR. 30, 1912. 1,@49,546 Patented Jan. 7, 1913.

ATTORNEY Patented J an. 7, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

A. A. E. STERZING.

STEAM GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR.24, 1902. RENEWED APR.30, 1912. 1,049,546n

INVENTOR ATTORNEY WITNESSES:

9" 0a KS/2i? SZHM A. A. E. STERZING.

STEAM GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR.24, 1902. RENEWED APRLZO, 1912. 1,049,546.,

Patented Jan. 7, 1913. I

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

WHNESSE8: ,NVENTUR ffy'fi fwz wwmfi 61/744 am, I

ATTORNEY ALBERT A E. STERZINQUF NEW YORK, N. TY.

STEAM-GENERATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. Z, 1913..

Application filed April 24, 1902, Serial No; i04,e49. Renewed April 30, 1912. Serial No. 694,302.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALBERT A. E.'S'1'Enzme, a subject of the King ofGreat Britain,-

and a resident of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain-new and useful Improvements in Steam-Generators, of which the following is a specification'.

My invention relates to an apparatus for generating steam and more particularly to an apparatus for maintaining a supply of superheated steam at a high temperature and pressure.

My-invention has forv an object to provide an apparatus in which the fluid in the generator and the products of combustion from the combustion chamber flow in opposite directions so that the Water or other liquid is gradually heated from the point where it enters the generator to the point where it isall transformed into superheated steam and that the heat is gradually and uniformly and eficien'tly absorbed from the products of combustion.

It is also an object oft-he invention to maintain the flow of the fluid in that part of the generator where the vaporization takesp'lace at the maximum speed, and also to maintain the flow of the products of combustion at the maximum speed while in contact wit-h the generator; also to provide an apparatus in which there are no sudden fluctuations in the temperature of the metal and in which there is perfect flexibility and freedom of independent J expansion of each part; also to provide an apparatus which is simple and cheap in construction and which is arranged to permit ready ac cess to every part; also to provide an apimprovements paratus which is safe and reliable in op 'eration and which is durable and not apt to get out of order. A

These and other objects of my invention will more fully appear from the following description.

My invention consists in the novel parts, and combinations herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings which are referred to herein and form a part hereof illustrate two embodiments of my invention and 'serve, in connection wit-h the descrip-- I tion herein, to explain the principles of the invention and the best mode contemplated by me of carrying those principles into efiect.

Of .thedrawings Figure 1 is a vertical central section illustrating a preferred form of the apparatus; Fig. 2 is a sectional plan of the same taken on theline A A, Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively a vertical and a transverse section on a larger scale illustrating certain details of construction; Figs. 5 and 6 are similar views on a still larger scale illustrating a detail; Fig. 7 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 1, illustrating a modified form of the apparatus.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts wherever they occur throughout the sev eral views.

An apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention consists in the combinatioir with a combustion chamber, of a plurality of steam generating elements each consisting 1 of parallel plates secured together at their edges to form a steam generating space having a large area of heating surface in proportion to its volume, said elements being separated from each other to form a sinuous assage for the products of combustion and connected together in series by means forming communicating passages between the spaces in said elements. Means are also provided for supplying water or other liquid to the element farthest from the combustion chamber and for deliveringthe steam from the element nearest the combustion chamber.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and at first to the preferred form of the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, 1 represents the grate bars, 2 the door, 3 the ash pit, and 4 the rear wall of an ordinary furnace.- The generator as a whole is inclosed and supported by suitable walls the front and rear sections of which are respectively represented by numerals 5 and 6. In accordance With the construction shown the Water heating and steam generating elements 7', 8, 9, l0 and 11 are arranged above the furnace, said elements being separated from and staggered with relation to each other to form a sinuous passage for the prodnets of combustion which find their final exit in the uptake 12 formed in the top wall 13 of the a paratus. In accordance with the preferre construction, each of the water heating and steam generating elements consists of three parallel plates, the outer ones being secured together at their edges and separated from the intermediate plate to. form a plural ty of water heating and steam generating spaces having large areas of heating surface in proportion to their volume. The water heating elements 7 and 8 are preferably made much larger in volume than are the steam generating elements 9,v

10 and 11, the object being to maintain a considerable supply of water heated nearly to the temperature of vaporization so as not to cause a considerable fluctuation the temperature of the vaporizing portion 50f the generator due to sudden increases in the demand for steam. As shown the upper water heating element 7 consists of three plates, 14, 15 and 16, the outer plates 14 and 15 preferably being formed by bending a single sheet of metalback upon itself along its central portion, the bend thus forming an integral connection between the adjacent edges of the lates. The three remaining edges of. the p ates may be secured together in any suitable way, as by means of the flanged plate 17 which forms oneend .and

two sides of the element. The intermediate plate 16 may be held in place in any suitable way. As a tight joint between the intermediate plate 16 and the flanged plate 17 does not need to be liquid tight, the intermediate plate is preferably held in place merely by' means of the stay bolts 18 and distance pieces 19 which arearranged at.

an the side walls 21 and .22, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, so that only the plates 14 and 15 and the integral connection between one pair of their adjacent edges are exposed to the products of combustion. The intermediate plate 16 is made somewhat shorter than the element 7, and is supported with one of its ends and its two'opposite sides in substantial contact with-the end and side walls respectively of the flange plate 17, so

r as to form a communicating passagebetween the upper andlowerspaces of the element 7 at one end thereof. The second water heating element 8 is preferably the same in construction as element 7, except that the intermediate plate 26 is arranged to make contact at one of its ends with the integral connection between one pairof the adjacentv edges of the outside plates 24'and 25, a communicating passage 28 'being formed between ,the opposite end of the intermediate plate 26 and the end portion of the flange 5 plate27. The element 8 is arranged in a reversed position .and offset or staggered with reference to the element 7 the sides and end of the element 8 being arranged respectively in the side walls 21 and 22 and in the end wall 6 of the generator. The upper element 7 is connected at or near one end with the adjacent end of the element 8. Any

suitable form of connection which will provide a communicating passage or passages of ample dimensions bet-ween the lower space of the upper element 7 and the upper space of the lower element 8 may be employed. These connections however should not be so constructed as to materially-reduce the area of the passage formed between the elements for the products of combustion.

' Preferably and as shown the elements 7 and 8 are connected by a pair of elongated flange joints one of. which is shown at 30, said oints being arranged at the opposite sidesof the sections with their largest'dimensions extending in the direction'of theflow of the products of combustion.- Each of theseflange joints preferably consists of two' sections 32 andv 33 which are riveted to the; 15 and 24 respectively and are adapt-.

plates ed to beremovably bolted together at their adjacent edges which are suitably flanged for this purpose, as shown.

The steam. generating elements 9 and 10 correspond in all essential particulars with the water'heating elements 7 and 8 respectively, except that the plates are separated from each other by spaces which are much less in volume than the spaces in the elements 7 and 8. The upper and lower plates bending a single sheet of metal and they are preferably separated 'from the intermediate plate 36 by spaces. which are about 34 and 35 of the element 9 are formed by erplialin depth to the thickness of the plate's, T e three platesa re se arated attheir side edges andat one end y strips 37 and 38, 7

the plates being secured together by rivets passing through the edges of the plates and 5 the strips. The plate 36 is made somewhat shorter than 34 and 35 so as to form a communicating passage hetween the upper and lower spaces of the element, said passage being located at the end of the element which is formed by the integral connection between the plates 34 and 35; The opposite end of the element is located in the wall 20 andthe opposite side edges of the element are located in-the. side walls 21 and 22- of the enerator. The element 9 is connected; at

its opposite sides to the element 8 by flanged connections 39 and 40 v(see Fig. 2) which are similar to and located in line with the connections between the elements '7 and 8. The element 10 consists of three plates 44,

45 and 46, which are combined in the same manner as the plates 34, 35 and 36,:e'xcept' that the plate 46 is made of substantially the same length as the plates 44 and 45 and is provided. at a point adjacent to the strips 47 and 48 with a series of perforations which form communicating passages between the upper and lower spaces of the element. The elements 9 and 10 are connected at their opposite sides by flange pieces similar to the flange pieces 39 and 40 and arranged in line therewith. One of the flange pieces connecting elements 9 and 10 is numbered 49 in Fig. 1. The element 11 is composed of three plates 54, 55 and 56. This element differs in construction from element 9 only in that it is extended farther to the left and the intermediate plate 56 is bent upwardly so as to lie in contact with the upper plate 54 for a short distance near its left end. In accordance with this construction there isa single strip 57 arranged bet-w en the ends of the plates 55 and 56. The object of this construction is to provide a suitable space-in which to collect the steam so that it can be uniformly delivered to a steam drum 58 which is connected to the element 11 by a series of flange joints 59. The steam is delivered froin a drum 58 by a suitable pipe 60. The elements 10 and 11 are connected by flange joints similar to and arranged in line with the connections between the other elements. One of the connections between the elements 10 and 11 is numbered 61 in Fig. 1.

In Figs. 3 and 4 the details of the construct-ion of the elements .9, 10 and 11 are shown on a larger scale, a portion of the left end of the element 10 being selected by way of example. As here shown, the plates 44, 45 and 46 are secured together at numerous points throughout the area of the element by stay bolts or rivets 50, the plates being separated by distance washers 51.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the washers 51 are preferably flared so as to form spaces.

between them and the rivets 50 and the washers are perforated so as to permit free circulation of water around the rivets. In this way the heating surfaces of the steam generating spaces are very materially increased. The heat being conducted by the bolts to the interior of the element and then delivered directly to the water with which they come in contact. In order to get a more uniform circulation of the water through the element and especially through the end thereof adjacent to the connections 4-9 and 61, suitable partition pieces 52 and 53 are arranged inthe upper and lower spaces of the element so as to cause a portion of the water to flow toward the middle of the end portion ofthe element. Similar pieces are arranged in-the upper and lower spaces of the element 9and in the upper space of the element 11', as'indicated in Fig.2. It will be l seen that the lowest element 11 forms the top of the furnace. The elements 7 and 9 are extended to the left of the elements 8 5 during thelr passage through the generator. 7

The speed of flow of the products of combustion'is thus kept at a maximum throughout the generator.- The front wall 20 of the generator and the portions of the rear 80 wall 6 located between the ends of the respective elements are preferably formed, as I shown, of suitable steel I-beams which are adapted .to keep the elements prpperly separated and to give the structure a suitable degree of stiffness. The I-beams are preferably lined on their inner surfaces by fire brick as indicated in the drawing. The

water is supplied at or near the left end of the upper spac of the upper element 7 by a suitable feed pipe 65 and the steam drum 58 is preferably connected with the upper element by means of a pipe 66,

the point of communication of which with the element 7 is controlled by a float valve 67. A water gage 68 is connected to the two upper elements in such a way as to indicate I when they are filled with water. A pet cock 68 is provided to permit the escape of any air in the upper element 7. Pressure and temperature gages 69 and 70 are preferably connected with the steam drum.

The operation of the apparatus is as followszThe generator is filled with water up to a certain point in the upper element 7 and then the fire is started. The steam outlet being closed the steam generated in the lower element 11 will be distilled over into the upper element 7 and, the vent cock 68*? being open to permit the escape of air in the element 7, the water in the drum 58 will also be carried over. When the element 7 is filled with Water the float valve 67 will close the pipe 66 and stop the distilling process. The steam pressure will then rise and the generator will then be ready to deliver steam. The water which is continuouslysupplied to the upper elements 7 and 8 will be gradually heated up to the temperature of vaporization corresponding to the pressure at which the apparatus is operated and as the water is delivered to the steam generating elements 9,10 and 11 it will be broken up into. spray and forcedthrough the thin passages of these elements at a high velocity so as to absorb the latent heat of vaporization in a very efiicient manner. When the fire is properly regulated in proportion to the demand for steam the water will all be transformed into steam before it passes the lower element 11 180 v the water in the upper part of the apparatus flows by gravity down into the hot surfaces of the lower elements. As soon as thewater begins to flow out of the upper part of the generator the float valve opens and permits the superheated steam to flow over into contact with the comparatively cool water. in the element 7 where it is rapidly condensed. This operation prevents an excessive rise in the pressure. If the apparatus is left inactive so long as to permit the lower part of the apparatus to entirely fill with water, this water will, upon again starting up the fire, be distilled over into the upper element 7 and the apparatus may be started as beore.

In accordance with the form of the generator illustrated in Fig. 7 the water heating and steam generating elements 71,72, 73, 74 and 75 each have a single space or passage, said elements being .formed by bending a. single plate' along a central line.

and then suitably securing the edges of the plate together. The two upper elements are preferably made much deeper than the others, so as to form reservoirs to maintain a considerable supply of water heated nearly 7 to the point of vaporization. The elements are suitably separated from each other and they'are alternately reversely arranged and staggered with relation to each other so as to form a sinuous passage for the escape of the productsof combustion, as in the pre vious form of the device. -As the elements contaln only a single passage, however, they must be connected to each other alternately at or near the opposite ends of the generator so as to cause the water to flow through all parts of each of the elements. To this end the upper elements 71 and 72 are connected near their left ends with suitable fiange joints similar to those shown in the previousform of the device. While only one of these joints isjshown at 76, it will be understood that a pair of the connections would generally be used, one at each side. Similar connections 77, 78 and 79 are arranged between the elements 72, 7 3, 7 4 and 75, the connections between 72 and 73 and between 7 4 and 7 5 being located to, the right and the connection bet-ween 7 3, and 74 being located to the left. For the purpose of taking the strain 'otf from the parts, suitable distance pieces 80, 81, 82 and 83 are located between the otherwise unconnected hand end of the upper element 71 by a feed pipe 84 and the steam is delivered from the left hand end of the lowest element 75 to a drum 85 as in the previous form of the device. The steam drum is also connected with the upper element 71 by a pipe 76, the passage through which is controlled by a float 87 and a valve 88. A water gage glass 89 is preferably so connected to the upper elements 71 and 7 2 that it can be seen whether or not those elements are filled with water. The operation of this form of the device is precisely the same as that of the previous form.

It will be seen that in both forms of the generator each of the elements is free to expand independently of the others; also that there are no great differences of temperature between adjacent parts of the apparatus. The apparatus is gradually raised in temperature from the point where the water enters to the point where the steam is delivered and when the apparatus is in operation the temperature of each part thereof is kept substantially uniform. There are no sudden fluctuations in the temperature of any part of the apparatus. The heat of the products of combustion is gradually and uniformly and so perfectly absorbed that the products of combustion may be delivered at a lower temperature than that at V which the steam is delivered.

v My invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the precise construction shown and described, norv to the particular construction .by which it may be carried into effect, as many changes may be made inthe construction without departing from the main principles of the invention and'without sacrificing its chief advantages. a

' What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 15 5 1. In a steam generator, the combination with a combustion chamber, of a plurality of water heating elementslocated remote from the combustion chamber, a plurality of steam generating elements located between .said water heating elements and said combustion chamber, each element consisting of parallelplates secured together at their edges and at intermediate points to form water heating and steam generating spaces, said elements being connected in series to form a continuous passage for the fluid to be heated and to form between them a sinuous passage for the products of combustion, means for feeding water to the element farthest from the combustion chamber, and a steam delivery passage communicating with the element nearest the combustion chamber, said water feeding means and steam delivery passage communicating with each other only through the water heating and steam generating elements, the steam magma ing of-parallel plates secured together at their edges and at numerous intermediate points to form a steam generating space having agreat area of heating surface in proportion to its volume, said elements being separated and arranged with relation to each other to form a single sinuous passage for the products of combustion, means forming communicating passages between the steam generating spaces in the elements and connecting said elements together in series, means for supplying water to the element farthest from the combustion chamber, said means comprising a water heating element arranged to maintain a considerable supply of water at the temperature of vaporization corresponding to the pressure at which the apparatus is operated, and means for delivering steam from the element nearest the combustion chamber.

3. In a steam generator, the combination with acombustion chamber, of a plurality of steam generating elements each consisting of three parallel plates slightly separated from each other and secured together at their edges and at numerous intermediate points so as to form a double or return passage having a great area of heating surface in proportion to its volume, said elements beingseparated and arranged with relation to each other to form between themasingle sinuous passage for the products of combustion, means forming communicating passages between the elements and connecting them together in series, means for supplying water to the element farthest from'the combustion chamber, and means fo'rdelivering steam from the element nearest the combustion chamber.

4. In a steam generator, the-combination with a combustion chamber, of a plurality of steam genera-ting elements each consisting of three parallel plates slightly separated from each other and secured together at their edges and at numerous intermediate points so as to form a double or return passage having a great area of heating surface in proportion to its volume, said elements being separated and arranged with relation toeach other to form between them a single sinuous passage for the products of combustion, means forming communicating passages between the elements and connecting them together in series, means for supplying water to the element farthest from the combustion chamber, said means comprising a water heating element arranged to maintain a con siderable supply of water at the temperature of vaporization corresponding to the pressure at which the apparatus is operated, and means for delivering steam from the element nearest the combustion chamber.

5,. In a steamgenerator the combination with a combustion chamber, of a plurality of steam generator elements each consisting of a plurality of parallel plates secured together at their edges and at numerous intermediate points, said elements being separated to form a passage for the products of combustion, and means forming communicating passages between said elements, the plates .of part of said elements being widely separated to form water heating supply reservoirs and the plates of other of said elements being slightly separated to form steam generating surfaces having great areas of heating surface in proportion to their volume. r

6. In a steam generator, the combination with a combustion chamber, of a plurality of generator elements each consistingv of a plurality of parallel plates secured together at their edges and at numerous intermediate points, said elements being separated and staggered with relation to each other to form a sinuous passage' between said elements, and means forming communicating passages between the elements and connecting them together inseries, the plates of one or more of the elements farthest from the combustion chamber being widely separated to form water heating supply reservoirs and the plates of the elements nearest the combustion chamber being slightly separated to form steam generating spaces having greatareas of heating surface in proportion to-their volume, and means forming communicating passages between said elements. 4 I

7. In a steam generator, the vcombination with a combustion chamber, of a'plurality of generator elements each consisting of a plurality of parallel plates secured together at their edges and at numerous intermediate points, saidelements being separated-and staggered with relation to each other to form a sinuous passage between said elements, and means forming communicating passages between the elements and connecting them together in series, the plates of one or more of the elements-farthest from the combustion chamber being widely separated to form water heating supply reservoirs and the plates of the elements nearest the combustion chamber bei'ng slightly separated to form steam generating spaces having'great areas of heating surface in proportion to their volume, a feed pipe for supplying water to the element farthest from the combustion chamber and a steam drum for receiving thesteam from the element nearest the combustion chamber.

8. In a steam generator, the combination ing separated to form a passage for the products of combustion, means forming communicating passages between said elements and connecting them together in series, the plates of one or more of the elements farthest from the combustion chamber being widely separated to form water heating supply reservoirs and the plates. of the elements nearest the combustion chamber being slightly separated to form steam generating spaces having a great area of heating surface in proportion .to their volume, and steam-delivering means connected to the last element of the series. I

9. Ina steam generator,-the combination with a combustion chamber, of a plurality of generator elements, each consisting of a plurality of parallel plates secured togetherat their edges and at numerous intermediate points, said elements being separated from each other and staggered with relation :to

each other to form a single sifinous passage for the products of combustion, and means forming communicating passages between said elements and connecting them together 'in series, the plates of one or more of the elements farthest from the combustion chamber being widely separated to form water heating supply reservoirs, and the plates of the elements nearest the combustion chamber being slightly separated to form steam generating. spaces having great area of heating surface in proportion to their volume, a feed pipe. for-supplying water to the elements farthest from the combustion chamber and thesteam drum for receiving steamfrom the element nearest the combustion chamber.

10. In a steam generator, the combination with a combustion chamber, of a plurality of steam generating elements each consisting of three parallel plates separated from each other and secured together at their edges and at numerous intermediate points so as to form a double or return passage having a great area of heating surface in proportion to its volume, and means forming communicating passages between said elements, the plates of part of said elements being widely separated to form water heating supply reservoirs and the plates of other of said elements being slightly separated to form steam generating surfaces having great areas of heating surface in proportion to their volume. I

11. In a steam generator, the combination with a combustion chamber, of a plurality of steam generator elements arranged one above.

another above the combustion chamber, each consisting of three plates secured together at their edges and at numerous intermediate points so as to form a double or return passage, said elements being separated staggered with relation to each other to form a single sinuous passage for the products of combustion, and means formingcommunieating passages between the said elements and connecting them together in. series, the plates of one or more of said elements farthest from the combustion chamber being Widely separated to form water heating supply reservoirsand the plates of the elements nearest the combustion chamber being slightly separated to form steam generator spaces having great areas of heating surface in proportion to their volume, a' feed pipe for supplying water to the supply reservoirs and a steam drum for receiving the steam from the steam generating spaces.

12. A steam generator including in combination, aplurality of water heating and steam generating elements connected in series to form a continuous passage for the fluid to be heated and to form between them a sinuous passage for the products of combustion, means for feeding water to the element farthest from the combustion chamber and a steam delivery passage communicatheatingelements having greater capacity and than the steam generating elements and the spaces in said'steam generating elements being so small as to'prevent Water and steam from flowing inopposite directions in said spaces while steam is being delivered from the generator.

In testimonywhereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing itnesses.

ALBERTA. E. STERZING.

Witnesses:

J. H. FREEMAN, EDWIN SEGER. 

